Tell Majority Whip McCarthy to bring H.R. 4347 to a vote.

HELP HOLD TURKEY ACCOUNTABLE!

Tell Majority Whip McCarthy to bring H.R. 4347 to a vote

 H.R. 4347 is a bipartisan bill that seeks to hold Turkey accountable for its confiscation and destruction of Christian sites in Turkey and in occupied Cyprus, as well as for its treatement of religious minorities. Read the bill here and learn more about the bill here.

Over the next few days, members of the House will be asking Republican Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy to schedule H.R. 4347 for a vote. Join them in asking that this important bill be brought to the floor for consideration. Co-sign their letter, and HALC will personally deliver your signatures to Rep. McCarthy's office.

Dear Majority Leader McCarthy:

We are writing to ask you to schedule a vote on H.R.4347, the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act.

This religious freedom measure, introduced by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, supports the right of Christians to reclaim stolen churches and religious properties, so that they may pray once again in their ancient houses of worship. As a practical matter, it requires an annual State Department report to Congress on efforts to secure the return of Christian properties in Turkey. It imposes no sanctions, includes no mandates, and authorizes no new foreign policy.

As you know, there are today, within Turkey and the areas of Cyprus occupied by the Turkish military, thousands of Christian holy sites, including many which are profoundly significant to world Christian heritage. Many of those that are still standing are in disrepair or have been converted into mosques, museums, or barns.

The remaining Christians in Turkey, now a fraction of one percent of the population, continue to endure unfair restrictions on their freedom of faith - as documented by both the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). An annual State Department report will underscore America's concern for the rights of vulnerable Christian communities and other minority populations.

Thank you.

 http://action.hellenicleaders.com/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15124